Display apparatus

ABSTRACT

According to an aspect, a display apparatus includes: a plurality of gate lines; a plurality of first switches arranged in respective pixels in a display region, each of the first switches being coupled to one of the gate lines; a plurality of second switches arranged in a frame region surrounding the display region, each of the second switches being coupled to one of the gate lines; and a first wire coupled to the respective second switches and supplying a detection drive signal to the respective gate lines through the respective second switches in a detection operation period. The first wire is arranged between the second switches and the display region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Application No.2016-163092, filed on Aug. 23, 2016, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display apparatus capable of touchdetection and force detection.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, touch detection apparatuses capable of detecting anexternal proximity object, or so-called touch panels, have attractedattention. A touch panel is mounted on or integrated with a displayapparatus such as a liquid crystal display apparatus, so as to be usedas a display apparatus with a touch detection function. A displayapparatus including a capacitive touch sensor is known as such a displayapparatus with a touch detection function. Also known is a displayapparatus capable of detecting force and executing various functions inaccordance with the magnitude of the force when an input surface thereofis pressed with a finger or the like.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2000-066837(JP-A-2000-066837) discloses a force detecting digitizer including aliquid crystal display cell, and a gate line and a drain line arrangedso as to intersect with each other. The force detecting digitizerdisclosed in JP-A-2000-066837 detects force applied to a liquid crystalpanel by change of a capacitance of the liquid crystal display cellprovided in an intersection of the gate line and the drain line.

In some cases, a large parasitic capacitance is generated in aself-capacitive detection operation.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a display apparatuscapable of reducing a parasitic capacitance in the self-capacitivedetection operation.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect, a display apparatus includes: a plurality ofgate lines; a plurality of first switches arranged in respective pixelsin a display region, each of the first switches being coupled to one ofthe gate lines; a plurality of second switches arranged in a frameregion surrounding the display region, each of the second switches beingcoupled to one of the gate lines; and a first wire coupled to therespective second switches and supplying a detection drive signal to therespective gate lines through the respective second switches in adetection operation period. The first wire is arranged between thesecond switches and the display region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of adisplay apparatus with a touch detection function according to a firstembodiment;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a fingeris neither in contact with nor in proximity to a display apparatus, forexplaining the basic principle of mutual capacitive touch detection;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a fringeelectric field in the state in which the finger is neither in contactwith nor in proximity to the display apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of anequivalent circuit in the state in which the finger is neither incontact with nor in proximity to the display apparatus as illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a fingeris in contact with or in proximity to a display apparatus, forexplaining the basic principle of mutual capacitive touch detection;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a fringeelectric field in the state in which the finger is in contact with or inproximity to the display apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of anequivalent circuit in the state in which the finger is in contact withor in proximity to the display apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the waveforms of adetection drive signal and a first detection signal according to amutual capacitive method;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of anequivalent circuit for self-capacitive touch detection;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the waveforms of adetection drive signal and a second detection signal according to aself-capacitive method;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating a schematic sectional structureof an electronic apparatus including the display apparatus with a touchdetection function;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating a schematic sectional structureof the display apparatus with a touch detection function according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically illustrating a first substrate ofthe display apparatus with a touch detection function according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a plan view schematically illustrating a second substrate ofthe display apparatus with a touch detection function according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram illustrating a pixel array of a displaydevice with a touch detection function according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofdrive electrodes and detection electrodes of the display device with atouch detection function according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining force detection performed by thedisplay apparatus with a touch detection function according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating the driveelectrodes and wires according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view illustrating a cross section taken alongline XIX-XIX in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged plan view of the periphery of a second sensordriver according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a plan view illustrating shields according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view illustrating a cross section taken alongline XXII-XXII in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a timing waveform chart illustrating an exemplary operationof the display apparatus with a touch detection function according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 24 is another timing waveform chart illustrating an exemplaryoperation of the display apparatus with a touch detection functionaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary operationperformed by the display apparatus with a touch detection functionaccording to the first embodiment in a display period;

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary operationperformed by the display apparatus with a touch detection functionaccording to the first embodiment in a touch detection period;

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary operationperformed by the display apparatus with a touch detection functionaccording to the first embodiment in a force detection period;

FIG. 28 is another schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary operationperformed by the display apparatus with a touch detection functionaccording to the first embodiment in the force detection period; and

FIG. 29 is a timing waveform chart illustrating an exemplary operationof a display apparatus with a touch detection function according to asecond embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Modes (embodiments) for carrying out the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the drawings. The presentinvention is not limited by the descriptions of the followingembodiments. The elements described hereunder include those that can beeasily thought of by those skilled in the art and substantially the sameelements. The elements described hereunder may also be combined asappropriate. The disclosure is merely an example, and the presentinvention naturally encompasses appropriate modifications maintainingthe gist of the invention that is easily conceivable by those skilled inthe art. To further clarify the description, a width, a thickness, ashape, and the like of each component may be schematically illustratedin the drawings as compared with an actual aspect. However, this ismerely an example and interpretation of the invention is not limitedthereto. The same elements as those described in the drawings that havealready been discussed are denoted by the same reference numeralsthroughout the description and the drawings, and detailed descriptionthereof will not be repeated in some cases. In this disclosure, when anelement is described as being “on” another element, the element can bedirectly on the other element, or there can be one or more elementsbetween the element and the other element.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of adisplay apparatus with a touch detection function according to a firstembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a display apparatus 1 with a touchdetection function includes a display device 10 with a touch detectionfunction, a controller 11, a gate driver 12, a source driver 13, a firstsensor driver 14, and a detector 40. The display apparatus 1 with atouch detection function is a display apparatus in which the displaydevice 10 with a touch detection function has a touch detection functionbuilt therein. The display device 10 with a touch detection function isa device in which a display panel 20 using a liquid crystal displayelement as a display element and a touch panel 30 as an input detectiondevice that detects a touch input are integrated. The display device 10with a touch detection function may be a so-called on-cell type devicein which the touch panel 30 is mounted on the display panel 20. Thedisplay panel 20 may be, for example, an organic electroluminescence(EL) display panel.

The display panel 20 is an element that performs display by sequentiallyscanning each one horizontal line in accordance with a scanning signalVscan supplied from the gate driver 12, which will be described below.The controller 11 is a circuit that supplies control signals to the gatedriver 12, the source driver 13, the first sensor driver 14, and thedetector 40, in accordance with a video signal Vdisp supplied from theoutside, and controls them to operate in synchronization with oneanother.

The gate driver 12 has a function to sequentially select one horizontalline that serves as a target of display drive for the display device 10with a touch detection function, in accordance with a control signalsupplied from the controller 11.

The source driver 13 is a circuit that supplies a pixel signal Vpix toeach sub-pixel SPix, which will be described below, of the displaydevice 10 with a touch detection function, in accordance with a controlsignal supplied from the controller 11.

The first sensor driver 14 is a circuit that supplies a detection drivesignal Vcom to a first sensor electrode COML, which will be describedbelow, of the display device 10 with a touch detection function, inaccordance with a control signal supplied from the controller 11.

The touch panel 30 detects contact or proximity of an external conductorwith or to a display region by operating on the basis of the basicprinciple of capacitive touch detection, and performing a touchdetection operation by a mutual capacitive method. The touch panel 30may perform a touch detection operation by a self-capacitive method. Thetouch panel 30 performs a force detection operation by theself-capacitive method.

The detector 40 is a circuit that detects whether there is a touch onthe touch panel 30, in accordance with a control signal supplied fromthe controller 11 and a first detection signal Vdet1 supplied from thetouch panel 30. When there is a touch, the detector 40 obtains thecoordinates and the like of the touch input. The detector 40 includes adetection signal amplifier 42, an analog/digital (A/D) converter 43, asignal processor 44, a coordinate extractor 45, and a storage 47. Adetection timing controller 46 controls the A/D converter 43, the signalprocessor 44, and the coordinate extractor 45 to operate insynchronization with one another, in accordance with a control signalsupplied from the controller 11.

Further, a second sensor driver 48 is a selection circuit for gate lines23, which will be described below, for supplying a detection drivesignal Vd or a guard signal Vsg1 to the gate lines 23, when detectingforce applied to the display device 10 with a touch detection function.The detector 40 detects the force applied to the display device 10 witha touch detection function, in accordance with a second detection signalVdet2 and a third detection signal Vdet3 supplied from the touch panel30.

As described above, the touch panel 30 operates based on the basicprinciple of capacitive touch detection. The following describes thebasic principle of mutual capacitive touch detection by the displayapparatus 1 with a touch detection function according to the presentembodiment, with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 8. FIG. 2 is an explanatorydiagram illustrating a state in which a finger is neither in contactwith nor in proximity to a display apparatus, for explaining the basicprinciple of mutual capacitive touch detection. FIG. 3 is an explanatorydiagram illustrating an example of a fringe electric field in the statein which the finger is neither in contact with nor in proximity to thedisplay apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an explanatorydiagram illustrating an example of an equivalent circuit in the state inwhich the finger is neither in contact with nor in proximity to thedisplay apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is an explanatorydiagram illustrating a state in which a finger is in contact with or inproximity to a display apparatus, for explaining the basic principle ofmutual capacitive touch detection. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagramillustrating an example of a fringe electric field in the state in whichthe finger is in contact with or in proximity to the display apparatusas illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustratingan example of an equivalent circuit in the state in which the finger isin contact with or in proximity to the display apparatus as illustratedin FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the waveformsof a detection drive signal and a first detection signal. The followingdescribes an example of a finger in contact with or in proximity to thedisplay apparatus. However, the present disclosure is not limited to thefinger, and may employ an object including a conductor, such as a styluspen.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a capacitive element C1 includesa pair of electrodes, i.e., a drive electrode E1 and a detectionelectrode E2, arranged to face each other with a dielectric D interposedtherebetween. The drive electrode E1 corresponds to the first sensorelectrode COML described blow and the detection electrode E2 correspondsto a second sensor electrode TDL described below. In the capacitiveelement C1, electric lines of force Ef for a fringe extending from anend portion of the drive electrode E1 to an upper surface of thedetection electrode E2 are generated as illustrated in FIG. 3, inaddition to electric lines of force generated between counter surfacesof the drive electrode E1 and the detection electrode E2. As illustratedin FIG. 4, one end of the capacitive element C1 is coupled to analternating-current signal source (drive signal source) S and the otherend thereof is coupled to a voltage detector DET. The voltage detectorDET is an integrator included in the detection signal amplifier 42illustrated in FIG. 1, for example.

When an alternating-current square wave Sg of a predetermined frequency(e.g., about several kHz to several hundreds of kHz) is applied from thealternating-current signal source S to the drive electrode E1 (one endof the capacitive element C), an output waveform (the first detectionsignal Vdet1) as illustrated in FIG. 8 appears through the voltagedetector DET coupled to the detection electrode E2 side (the other endof the capacitive element C1). The alternating-current square wave Sgcorresponds to a detection drive signal Vcom input from the first sensordriver 14.

In the state in which a finger is neither in contact with nor inproximity to the display apparatus (non-contact state), a current I0according to a capacitance value of the capacitive element C1 flows withcharge or discharge to or from the capacitive element C1, as illustratedin FIG. 4. The voltage detector DET illustrated in FIG. 4 convertsvariation of the current I0 according to the alternating-current squarewave Sg into variation of a voltage (a waveform V0 in the solid lineillustrated in FIG. 8).

On the other hand, in the state in which a finger is in contact with oris in proximity to the display apparatus (contact state), a capacitanceC2 generated by the finger is in contact with or is in proximity to thedetection electrode E2, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Accordingly, aconductor E3 (the finger) blocks the electric lines of force Ef for afringe between the drive electrode E1 and the detection electrode E2, asillustrated in FIG. 6. The capacitive element C1 thus acts as acapacitive element C1′ with a smaller capacitance value than thecapacitance value in the non-contact state, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Inthe equivalent circuit illustrated in FIG. 7, a current I1 flows throughthe capacitive element Cr. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the voltagedetector DET converts variation of the current I1 according to thealternating-current square wave Sg into variation of a voltage (awaveform V1 indicated by the dotted line). In this case, the waveform V1has a smaller amplitude than that of the waveform V0. As a result, anabsolute value |ΔV| of the voltage difference between the waveform V0and the waveform V1 varies depending on the influence of the conductorE3 such as the finger that comes into contact with or in proximity tothe display apparatus from the outside. To accurately detect theabsolute value |ΔV| of the voltage difference between the waveform V0and the waveform V1, the voltage detector DET preferably performs theoperation with a period Reset to reset charge and discharge of acapacitor in accordance with the frequency of the alternating-currentsquare wave Sg by switching in the circuit.

The touch panel 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 performs mutual capacitivetouch detection by sequentially scanning each supply unit of the firstsensor electrode(s) COML in accordance with the first drive signal Vcomsupplied from the first sensor driver 14. A supply unit of the firstsensor electrode(s) COML may be one first sensor electrode COML or maybe a set of first sensor electrodes COML to which the first drive signalVcom is supplied at the same time.

The touch panel 30 outputs the first detection signal Vdet1 for eachsupply unit of the first sensor electrode(s) COML from a plurality ofsecond sensor electrodes TDL described below through the voltagedetector DET illustrated in FIG. 4 or 7. The first detection signalVdet1 is supplied to the detection signal amplifier 42 of the detector40.

The detection signal amplifier 42 amplifies the first detection signalVdet1 supplied from the touch panel 30. The detection signal amplifier42 may include an analog low pass filter (LPF) that removes a highfrequency component (noise component) included in the first detectionsignal Vdet1 and then outputs the signal.

The A/D converter 43 samples an analog signal output from the detectionsignal amplifier 42 and converts the analog signal into a digital signalat timing in synchronization with the first drive signal Vcom.

The signal processor 44 includes a digital filter that reduces frequencycomponents (noise components) other than a frequency at which the firstdrive signal Vcom is sampled, included in the output signal of the A/Dconverter 43. The signal processor 44 is a logic circuit that detectswhether a touch is made on the touch panel 30, in accordance with theoutput signal of the A/D converter 43. The signal processor 44 performsprocessing of extracting only a difference of the detection signalscaused by the finger. The signal of the difference caused by the fingeris the absolute value |ΔV| of the difference between the waveform V0 andthe waveform V1. The signal processor 44 may perform an arithmeticoperation for averaging the absolute values |ΔV| per supply unit of thefirst sensor electrode(s) COML, thereby calculating the average value ofthe absolute values |ΔV|. The signal processor 44 thus can reduce theinfluence of noise. The signal processor 44 compares the signal of thedifference caused by the detected finger with a predetermined thresholdvoltage. When the difference is less than the threshold voltage, thesignal processor 44 determines that the external proximity object is inthe non-contact state. On the other hand, when the difference is equalto or larger than the threshold voltage, the signal processor 44determines that the external proximity object is in the contact state.In this way, the detector 40 can perform the touch detection.

The coordinate extractor 45 is a logic circuit that obtains touch panelcoordinates when the touch is detected by the signal processor 44. Thecoordinate extractor 45 outputs the touch panel coordinates as adetection signal output Vout. As described above, the display apparatus1 with a touch detection function of the present embodiment can detectthe touch panel coordinates of the position at which the conductor suchas the finger is in contact therewith or is in proximity thereto, on thebasis of the basic principle of the touch detection by the mutualcapacitive method.

Subsequently, the basic principle of self-capacitive touch detectionwill be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is anexplanatory diagram illustrating an example of an equivalent circuit forself-capacitive touch detection. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating anexample of the waveforms of a detection drive signal and a seconddetection signal according to the self-capacitive method. FIG. 9illustrates a detection circuit together with the equivalent circuit.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the voltage detector DET is coupled to thedetection electrode E2. In the state in which the finger is neither incontact with nor in proximity to the display apparatus, thealternating-current square wave Sg is applied to the detection electrodeE2, and a current flows through the detection electrode E2, the currentaccording to a capacitance C3 of the detection E2. The voltage detectorDET converts variation of the current according to thealternating-current square wave Sg in the non-contact state intovariation of a voltage (a waveform V4 indicated by the solid line inFIG. 10). In the state in which the conductor such as the finger is incontact with or is in proximity to the display apparatus (contactstate), a capacitance C4 between the conductor and the detectionelectrode E2 is added to capacitance C3 of the detection electrode E2.When the alternating-current square wave Sg is applied to the detectionelectrode E2, a current according to the capacitance C3 and thecapacitance C4 flows through the detection electrode E2. The voltagedetector DET converts variation of the current according to thealternating-current square wave Sg in the contact state into variationof a voltage (a waveform V5 indicated by the dotted line). Whether thereis the conductor in contact with or in proximity to the detectionelectrode E2 can be determined by integrating the voltage values of theobtained waveforms V4 and V5, and comparing the integrated values.Whether there is the conductor in contact with or in proximity to thedetection electrode E2 may be determined on the basis of a period untila waveform V2 and a waveform V3 illustrated in FIG. 10 are lowered to apredetermined reference voltage VTH. This alternating-current squarewave Sg corresponds to a detection drive signal Vd to be describedbelow.

In FIG. 10, the alternating-current square wave Sg rises to a voltagelevel corresponding to a voltage V0 at time T01. At this time, a switchSW1 is ON and a switch SW2 is OFF. The voltage of the detectionelectrode E2 thus rises to the voltage V0. Subsequently, the switch SW1is turned OFF before time T11. At this time, while the detectionelectrode E2 is in a floating state, a potential of the detectionelectrode E2 is maintained to the voltage V0 by the capacitance C3 ofthe detection electrode E2, or the capacitance C3+the capacitance C4(see FIG. 9) obtained by adding the capacitance C4 caused by contact orproximity of the conductor to the capacitance C3 of the detectionelectrode E2. Further, a switch SW3 is turned ON before the time T11 andis turned OFF after the elapse of a predetermined time to reset thevoltage detector DET. By this reset operation, the second detectionsignal Vdet2 has a voltage substantially the same as a reference voltageVref.

Subsequently, when the switch SW2 is turned ON at the time T11, aninverting input unit of the voltage detector DET has the voltage V0 ofthe detection electrode E2, and then the potential of the insertinginput unit of the voltage detector DET is decreased to the referencevoltage Vref according to a time constant of the capacitance C3 of thedetection electrode E2 (or C3+C4) and that of a capacitance C5 in thevoltage detector DET. At this time, charges accumulated in thecapacitance C3 of the detection electrode E2 (or C3+C4) are moved to thecapacitance C5 in the voltage detector DET, which increases the seconddetection signal Vdet2 that is an output voltage of the voltage detectorDET. When the finger or the like is not in proximity to the detectionelectrode E2, the second detection signal Vdet2 as an output voltage ofthe voltage detector DET has the waveform V4 indicated by the solidline, and Vdet2=C3×V0/C5 is satisfied. When a capacitance caused by theinfluence of the finger or the like is added, the second detectionsignal Vdet2 as an output voltage of the voltage detector DET has thewaveform V5 indicated by the dotted line, and Vdet2=(C3+C4)×V0/C5 issatisfied. Subsequently, at time T31 after charges of the capacitance C3of the detection electrode E2 (or C3+C4) have been sufficiently moved tothe capacitance C5, the switch SW2 is turned OFF and the switch SW1 andthe switch SW3 are turned ON to cause the potential of the detectionelectrode E2 to be at a low level that is the same level as thepotential of the alternating-current square wave Sg and reset thevoltage detector DET.

The above operation is repeated at a predetermined frequency (e.g.,about several kHz to several hundreds of kHz). Whether there is theexternal proximity object (whether there is the conductor or whetherthere is a touch) can be detected on the basis of an absolute value |ΔV|of a difference between the waveform V4 and the waveform V5. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the signal processor 44 compares thesignal (absolute value |ΔV|) of the difference caused by the detectedfinger with a predetermined threshold voltage. When the signal is lessthan the threshold voltage, the signal processor 44 determines that theexternal proximity object is in the non-contact state. On the otherhand, when the difference is equal to or larger than the thresholdvoltage, the signal processor 44 determines that the external proximityobject is in the contact state. The coordinate extractor 45 calculatestouch panel coordinates, and outputs the touch panel coordinates as thedetection signal output Vout. In this way, the detector 40 can detect atouch on the basis of the basic principle of the self-capacitive touchdetection.

The above has described the detection of the external proximity objectwhen the finger comes in contact with or in proximity to the displayapparatus, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Force applied to an inputsurface can also be detected on the basis of the above-describedself-capacitive detection principle by providing an electric conductorfacing the detection electrode E2. In this case, a distance between thedetection electrode E2 and the electric conductor is changed accordingto the force applied to the input surface of the display device 10 witha touch detection function, which changes a capacitance generatedbetween the detection electrode E2 and the electric conductor. The touchpanel 30 outputs the second detection signal Vdet2 according to thechange of the capacitance to the detection signal amplifier 42.

The detection signal amplifier 42, the A/D converter 43, and the signalprocessor 44 perform the above signal processing to obtain theabove-described absolute value |ΔV| of the difference. The distancebetween the detection electrode E2 and the conductor is obtained basedon the absolute value |ΔV|. The force applied to the input surface isthus calculated. The storage 47 temporarily stores information about theforce calculated by the signal processor 44. The storage 47 may be arandom access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a registercircuit, or the like. The coordinate extractor 45 receives a pluralityof pieces of information about force from the storage 47, calculatesforce at the input position from a distribution of the force applied tothe input surface and the touch panel coordinates obtained from thetouch detection, and then outputs the information about the force as anoutput signal.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating a schematic sectional structureof an electronic apparatus including the display apparatus with a touchdetection function. An electronic apparatus 100 includes a cover member101, the display apparatus 1 with a touch detection function, abacklight 102, and a housing 103. The cover member 101 is a protectionmember that protects the display apparatus 1 with a touch detectionfunction, and may be a glass substrate having light-transmissionproperties, or a film base material using a resin, for example. Onesurface of the cover member 101 is an input surface 101 a on which aninput operation is performed by the finger or the like coming in contacttherewith or in proximity thereto. The display apparatus 1 with a touchdetection function includes an array substrate 2 and a counter substrate3, which will be described below. The counter substrate 3 is provided onthe array substrate 2, and the counter substrate 3 is arranged on theother surface of the cover member 101, that is, a surface opposite tothe input surface 101 a.

The backlight 102 is provided on the display apparatus 1 with a touchdetection function on an opposite side to the cover member 101 side. Thebacklight 102 may be bonded to a lower surface side of the arraysubstrate 2, or may be arranged with a predetermined interval from thearray substrate 2. The backlight 102 includes a light source such as alight emitting diode (LED), and emits light from the light source towardthe array substrate 2. The light from the backlight 102 passes throughthe array substrate 2, and switching between a portion where the lightis blocked and a portion where the light is emitted according to thestate of liquid crystals at the position causes an image to be displayedon the input surface 101 a of the cover member 101. The backlight 102can employ a known illumination unit, and various configurations. Whenthe display panel 20 of the display apparatus 1 with a touch detectionfunction is a reflective liquid crystal display apparatus, the backlight102 may not be provided. The reflective liquid crystal display apparatushas a reflective electrode provided on the array substrate 2. The lightentering from the cover member 101 side is reflected by the reflectiveelectrode, passes through the cover member 101, and reaches the eyes ofan observer.

The housing 103 is a box-like member having an opening at an upperportion, and is provided with the cover member 101 so as to cover theopening of the housing 103. The display apparatus 1 with a touchdetection function, the backlight 102, and the like are housed in aninternal space formed by the housing 103 and the cover member 101. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, the display apparatus 1 with a touch detectionfunction and the backlight 102 are arranged on the cover member 101side, and a gap 110 is provided between the backlight 102 and a bottomportion of the housing 103. The housing 103 is made of a conductivematerial such as metal, and is electrically coupled to the ground. Thebottom portion of the housing 103 functions as an electric conductor 104facing the first sensor electrode COML or the gate lines GCL when forceis detected.

Applying the force to the input surface 101 a deforms the arraysubstrate 2 and the counter substrate 3 such that they become slightlywarped towards the bottom portion side of the housing 103 together withthe cover member 101. The display apparatus 1 with a touch detectionfunction detects change of the capacitance C3 on the basis of theabove-described self-capacitive detection principle, which allows awarping amount of the cover member 101, the display apparatus 1 with atouch detection function, and the backlight 102 to be obtained. Thisallows the force applied to the input surface 101 a to be obtained.

An elastic body such as sponge or elastic rubber that is deformableaccording to the input force may be provided in the gap 110 between thebacklight 102 and the bottom portion of the housing 103. The material ofthe housing 103 is not limited to the conductive material such as metal,and may be an insulating material such as a resin. In this case, a metallayer may be provided to at least the bottom portion of the housing 103and may be used as the electric conductor 104.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating a schematic sectional structureof the display apparatus with a touch detection function according tothe first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically illustratinga first substrate of the display apparatus with a touch detectionfunction according to the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is a plan viewschematically illustrating a second substrate of the display apparatuswith a touch detection function according to the first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the display device 10 with a touch detectionfunction includes the array substrate 2, the counter substrate 3arranged to face the array substrate 2 in a direction perpendicular to asurface of the array substrate 2, and a liquid crystal layer 6 servingas a display function layer interposed between the array substrate 2 andthe counter substrate 3.

The array substrate 2 includes a first substrate 21 serving as a circuitsubstrate, pixel electrodes 22, the first sensor electrode COML, and aninsulating layer 24. The pixel electrodes 22 are arranged in a matrix ona plane parallel to the first substrate 21. The first sensor electrodesCOML are provided between the first substrate 21 and the pixelelectrodes 22. The insulating layer 24 insulates the pixel electrodes 22and the first sensor electrodes COML from each other. A polarizing plate65B is provided on a surface of the first substrate 21 through anadhesive layer 66B, the surface being opposite to a surface thereof onwhich the first sensor electrodes COML are provided.

The first substrate 21 is provided with a first control integratedcircuit (hereinafter referred to as the first control IC) 19. The firstcontrol IC 19 is a chip-on-glass (COG) mounted on the first substrate21, and has the above-described controller 11 built therein. A flexiblesubstrate 72 is coupled to an end portion of the first substrate 21. Thefirst control IC 19 outputs a control signal to a gate line GCL and asource line SGL described below and the like, in accordance with thevideo signal Vdisp (see FIG. 1) supplied from an external host IC (notillustrated).

The counter substrate 3 includes a second substrate 31 and a colorfilter 32 formed on one surface of the second substrate 31. The secondsensor electrode TDL that is a detection electrode of the touch panel 30is provided on the other surface of the second substrate 31. Aprotection layer 38 is provided on the second sensor electrode TDL.Further, a polarizing plate 65A is provided above the second sensorelectrode TDL through an adhesive layer 66A. A flexible substrate 71 iscoupled to the second substrate 31. The flexible substrate 71 is coupledto the second sensor electrode TDL through a frame line described below.The color filter 32 may be arranged on the first substrate 21. In thepresent embodiment, the first substrate 21 and the second substrate 31are, for example, glass substrates.

The first substrate 21 and the second substrate 31 are arranged to faceeach other with a predetermined interval interposed therebetween by aspacer 61. The liquid crystal layer 6 is provided in a space between thefirst substrate 21 and the second substrate 31. The liquid crystal layer6 modulates light passing therethrough according to the state of anelectric field, and employs liquid crystals of a transverse electricfield mode, such as an in-plane switching (IPS) mode including a fringefield switching (FFS) mode. Orientation films are respectively arrangedbetween the liquid crystal layer 6 and the array substrate 2, andbetween the liquid crystal layer 6 and the counter substrate 3illustrated in FIG. 12. The orientation films are, for example,polyimide films.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the display apparatus 1 with a touchdetection function includes a display region 10 a for displaying animage, and a frame region outside the display region 10 a. The displayregion 10 a has a rectangular shape. The frame region 10 b has a frameshape surrounding four sides of the display region 10 a. In thefollowing description, a direction parallel to the short sides of thedisplay region 10 a (lateral direction in FIG. 13) is referred to as anX direction, a direction parallel to the long sides of the displayregion 10 a (longitudinal direction in FIG. 13) is referred to as a Ydirection, and a direction perpendicular to both the X direction and theY direction is referred to as a Z direction.

The first sensor electrodes COML are provided in the display region 10 aof the first substrate 21. The first sensor electrodes COML extend inthe Y direction, and are arrayed in the X direction. The first sensorelectrode COML is, for example, a patterned translucent conductive layer(also called a conductor film or a conductor pattern), and is made of,for example, a conductive material having translucent properties such asindium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), and tin oxide (SnO).

The gate lines GCL in the display region 10 a extend in the X direction.The gate lines GCL in the display region 101 are arrayed in the Ydirection at a predetermined interval. That is, the gate lines GCLextend in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the firstsensor electrodes COML, and are arrayed in the extending direction ofthe first sensor electrodes COML. The gate lines GCL are grade-separatedfrom the respective first sensor electrodes COML.

The source lines SGL in the display region 10 a extend in the Ydirection. The source lines SGL in the display region 10 a are arrayedin the X direction at a predetermined interval. The source lines SGLoverlap with the first sensor electrodes COML in the Z direction, andextend in the extending direction of the first sensor electrodes COML.

As illustrated in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the gate drivers 12, the secondsensor drivers 48, the first sensor driver 14, and the first control IC19 are arranged in the frame region 10 b. One of the gate drivers 12 andone of the second sensor drivers 48 are arranged along one side of thedisplay region 10 a, and the other of the gate drivers 12 and the otherof the second sensor drivers 48 are arranged along a side opposite tothe one side of the display region 10 a. The second sensor drivers 48are electrically coupled to the respective gate drivers 12, and arearranged closer to the display region 10 a than the gate drivers 12. Theflexible substrate 72 is coupled to the first substrate 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the second sensor electrodes TDL are arrangedon the second substrate 31. The second sensor electrodes TDL extend inthe X direction and are arrayed in the Y direction. The second sensorelectrodes TDL are, for example, formed of a translucent conductivematerial such as ITO, IZO, and SnO. The second sensor electrodes TDL arenot limited to being formed of the above materials, and may be formedof, for example, metal thin wires or the like made of a metal material.Frame lines 37 are coupled to end portions of the respective secondsensor electrodes TDL. The frame lines 37 extend along a long side ofthe frame region 10 b and are coupled to the flexible substrate 71. Asecond control integrated circuit (hereinafter referred to as the secondcontrol IC) 18 is mounted on the flexible substrate 72. The detector 40illustrated in FIG. 1 is mounted on the second control IC 18, and thefirst detection signal Vdet1 output from the second sensor electrode TDLis supplied to the second control IC 18 through the frame line 37 andthe flexible substrate 71. The first sensor driver 14 illustrated inFIG. 1 is mounted on the second control IC 18 of the first embodiment.The flexible substrate 71 is coupled to the flexible substrate 72through a connector 72 a.

In the present embodiment, the second control IC 18 is a driver ICincluding the detector 40. The present disclosure is not limited to thepresent embodiment, and a part or all of the functions of the detector40 may be provided as the functions of another micro-processing unit(MPU). To be specific, among various functions such as A/D conversionand noise removal that can be provided as the functions of the touchdriver IC, some functions (e.g., noise removal) may be implemented in acircuit such as the MPU that is provided separately from the touchdriver IC.

Subsequently, a display operation of the display panel 20 will bedescribed. FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram illustrating a pixel array of adisplay device with a touch detection function according to the firstembodiment. The following elements are formed on the first substrate 21(see FIG. 12): a switch SWp (first switch) serving as a switchingelement for a sub-pixel SPix illustrated in FIG. 15; the source line SGLthat supplies a pixel signal Vpix to each pixel electrode 22; and thegate line GCL that supplies a drive signal (a signal having anon-voltage VGH or a signal having an off-voltage VGL to be describedbelow) for driving each switch SWp.

The display panel 20 illustrated in FIG. 15 includes the sub-pixels SPixarrayed in a matrix. The sub-pixels SPix each include the switch SWp.For example, an n-channel metal oxide semiconductor (MOS)-type thin filmtransistor (TFT) constitutes the switch SWp. Each switch SWp is arrangedin one sub-pixel SPix. The source of the switch SWp is coupled to thesource line SGL, and the gate of the switch SWp is coupled to the gateline GCL. The drain of the switch SWp is coupled to the pixel electrode22 (see FIG. 12) serving as one end of a display element 6 a. Thedisplay element 6 a is a capacitance generated between the pixelelectrode 22 serving as the one end and the first sensor electrode COMLserving as the other end. The liquid crystal layer 6 is driven by supplyof the pixel signals Vpix to the respective pixel electrodes 22, andapplication of a common voltage to all of the first sensor electrodesCOML. The display operation is thus performed.

The sub-pixel SPix is coupled to the other sub-pixels SPix belonging tothe same row by the gate line GCL. The gate line GCL is coupled to thegate driver 12 (see FIG. 1), and is supplied with the scanning signalVscan from the gate driver 12. The sub-pixel SPix is coupled to theother sub-pixels SPix belonging to the same column by the source lineSGL. The source line SGL is coupled to the source driver 13 (see FIG.1), and is supplied with the pixel signal Vpix from the source driver13. Further, the sub-pixel SPix is coupled to the other sub-pixels SPixbelonging to the same column by the first sensor electrode COML. Thefirst sensor electrode COML is coupled to the first sensor driver 14(see FIG. 1), and is supplied with the detection drive signal Vcom fromthe first sensor driver 14. That is, in this example, the sub-pixelsSPix belonging to the same column shares one first sensor electrodeCOML. The direction in which the first sensor electrode COML extends issubstantially the same as the direction in which the source line SGLextends.

The gate driver 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 performs drive by sequentiallyscanning the gate lines GCL. The gate driver 12 sequentially selects onerow (one horizontal line) of the sub-pixels SPix as a target of displaydrive by applying the scanning signal Vscan (see FIG. 1) to the gates ofthe switches SWp of the sub-pixels SPix through the scanning signal lineGCL. The source driver 13 supplies the pixel signal Vpix to thesub-pixels SPix constituting the selected one horizontal line throughthe source line SGL. Then, in these sub-pixels SPix, display isperformed for one horizontal line in accordance with the supplied pixelsignal Vpix. When this display operation is performed, the first sensorelectrodes COML are supplied with the ground potential GND.

In the color filter 32 illustrated in FIG. 12, color regions 32R, 32G,and 32B respectively colored in red (R), green (G), and blue (B), forexample, may be periodically arrayed. Any one of the color regions 32R,32G, and 32B corresponds to each sub-pixel SPix illustrated in FIG. 15.A set of the sub-pixel SPix corresponding to the color region 32R, thesub-pixel SPix corresponding to the color region 32G, and the sub-pixelSPix corresponding to the color region 32B constitutes a pixel Pix. Asillustrated in FIG. 12, the color filter 32 faces the liquid crystallayer 6 in the Z direction. The color filter 32 may have a combinationof other colors as long as the colors are different from one another.The color filter 32 is not limited to having the combination of threecolors, and may have a combination of four colors.

The first sensor electrodes COML illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 functionas common electrodes that drive the liquid crystal layer 6 disposedbetween the first sensor electrodes COML and the pixel electrodes 22 ofthe display panel 20, and also function as drive electrodes when thetouch panel 30 performs the mutual capacitive touch detection. The firstsensor electrodes COML may function as detection electrodes when thetouch panel 30 performs the mutual capacitive touch detection. FIG. 16is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary configuration of driveelectrodes and detection electrodes of the display device with a touchdetection function according to the first embodiment. The first sensorelectrodes COML provided on the array substrate 2 and the second sensorelectrodes TDL provided on the counter substrate 3 constitute the touchpanel 30.

The first sensor electrodes COML include a plurality of stripe electrodepatterns extending in a lateral direction in FIG. 16. The second sensorelectrodes TDL include a plurality of electrode patterns extending inthe direction intersecting the extending direction of the electrodepatterns of the first sensor electrodes COML. The second sensorelectrodes TDL face the first sensor electrodes COML. The electrodepatterns of the second sensor electrodes TDL are coupled to respectiveinput terminals of the detection signal amplifier 42 of the detector 40(see FIG. 1). A capacitance is generated in an intersection between eachof the electrode patterns of the first sensor electrodes COML and eachof the electrode patterns of the second sensor electrodes TDL.

With this configuration, when the touch panel 30 performs the mutualcapacitive touch detection operation, the first sensor driver 14performs drive by sequentially scanning each one supply unit of thefirst sensor electrode(s) COML in a time division manner, and thussequentially selects one supply unit of the first sensor electrode(s)COML in a scanning direction Ds. This configuration causes the firstdetection signal Vdet1 to be output from the second sensor electrodeTDL, and thus the touch detection is performed. That is, the one supplyunit of the first sensor electrode(s) COML corresponds to the driveelectrode E1 described in the basic principle of the mutual capacitivetouch detection, and the second sensor electrode TDL corresponds to thedetection electrode E2. The touch panel 30 thus detects the touch inputaccording to the basic principle. As illustrated in FIG. 16, in thetouch panel 30, the second sensor electrodes TDL and the first sensorelectrodes COML grade-separated from each other constitute capacitivetouch sensors in a matrix. This configuration enables detection of aposition of contact or proximity of the external conductor.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining force detection performed by thedisplay apparatus with a touch detection function according to the firstembodiment. As described above, the electric conductor 104 (e.g., thehousing 103) is arranged so as to be separated from the first substrate21 and face the first sensor electrodes COML. The capacitance C4 isgenerated between the first sensor electrode COML and the electricconductor 104. Applying force to the input surface 101 a (see FIG. 11)of the cover member 101 deforms the cover member 101 such that itbecomes slightly warped toward the electric conductor 104 side accordingto the force. The warping of the first substrate 21 together with thecover member 101 reduces the interval between the first sensor electrodeCOML and the electric conductor 104, and thus increases the capacitanceC4.

The second detection signal Vdet2 is output from the first sensorelectrode COML, as illustrated in FIG. 17, on the basis of theself-capacitive touch detection principle. That is, the first sensorelectrode COML corresponds to the detection electrode E2 in theself-capacitive touch detection principle. In the present embodiment,the first sensor electrodes COML function as: the common electrodes fordriving the liquid crystal layer 6 interposed between the first sensorelectrodes COML and the pixel electrodes 22 of the display panel 20; thedrive electrodes when the touch panel 30 performs the touch detection bythe mutual capacitive method; and the detection electrodes when thetouch panel 30 performs the force detection by the self-capacitivemethod. The magnitude of the force applied to the input surface 101 acan be detected in accordance with the second detection signals Vdet2output from the respective first sensor electrodes COML.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged plan view schematically illustrating the driveelectrodes and wires according to the first embodiment. Based on theabove-described self-capacitive detection principle, the third detectionsignal Vdet3 is output from the gate line GCL selected by the secondsensor drivers 48 as illustrated in FIG. 18. That is, each of the gatelines GCL corresponds to the detection electrode E2 in theself-capacitive detection principle. In the present embodiment, the gatelines GCL function as scanning lines of the display panel 20 and asdetection electrodes for the self-capacitive force detection. Thedisplay apparatus 1 with a touch detection function is capable of, inaccordance with the third detection signals Vdet3 output from therespective gate lines GCL, detecting the magnitude of force applied tothe input surface 101 a. The display apparatus 1 with a touch detectionfunction is capable of, in accordance with the second detection signalsVdet2 and the third detection signals Vdet3, grasping the distributionof force applied to the input surface 101 a. In this way, the presentembodiment allows the position of the touch input to be detected, andalso allows the magnitude of the force applied to the touch inputposition to be detected. In the present embodiment, the gate lines GCLand the first sensor electrodes COML are arranged in directionsintersecting each other. The display apparatus 1 with a touch detectionfunction is thus capable of, based on the detection result from the gatelines GCL and the detection result from the first sensor electrodesCOML, calculating coordinates of a position of the applied force.

Subsequently, a method for driving the first sensor electrodes COML andthe gate lines GCL in a force detection operation will be described.FIG. 19 is a sectional view illustrating a cross section taken alongline XIX-XIX in FIG. 18. FIG. 20 is an enlarged plan view of theperiphery of a second sensor driver according to the first embodiment.FIG. 20 illustrates one of the second sensor drivers 48 arranged alongtwo opposite sides of the display region 10 a. The arrangement of eachelement of the other second sensor driver 48 not illustrated in FIG. 20is line-symmetric to the corresponding element of the second sensordriver 48 illustrated in FIG. 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, the gate lines GCL are provided on a firstsurface 21 a side on the first substrate 21 through an insulating layer58 a. An insulating layer 58 b is provided on the gate lines GCL, andthe source lines SGL are provided on the insulating layer 58 b. Aninsulating layer 58 c is provided on the source lines SGL, and the firstsensor electrodes COML are provided on the insulating layer 58 c. Theinsulating layer 24 is provided on the first sensor electrodes COML, andthe pixel electrodes 22 are provided on the insulating layer 24. In thisway, the gate lines GCL are provided so as to be separated from thefirst sensor electrodes COML and be closer to the first substrate 21than the first sensor electrodes COML. The gate lines GCL aretime-divisionally coupled to the second sensor drivers 48 illustrated inFIG. 13. Thus, the first sensor electrodes COML functioning as commonelectrodes for the gate lines GCL and the display elements 6 a (see FIG.15) are used as electrodes for the self-capacitive detection, whichrequires no additional wiring as third sensor electrodes for detectingforce.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the first sensor driver 14 includes a driveelectrode scanner 14 a, a first drive signal generator 14 b, and asecond drive signal generator 15. The first drive signal generator 14 bgenerates and supplies the first drive signal Vcom to the driveelectrode scanner 14 a. In the mutual capacitive touch detectionoperation described above, the drive electrode scanner 14 a sequentiallyselects one supply unit of the first sensor electrode(s) COML, andsupplies the first drive signal Vcom to the selected one supply unit ofthe first sensor electrode(s) COML.

The second drive signal generator 15 is coupled to the drive electrodescanner 14 a through the voltage detector DET. When the above-describedself-capacitive force detection is performed, the second drive signalgenerator 15 supplies a detection drive signal Vd to the voltagedetector DET. The drive electrode scanner 14 a sequentially orsimultaneously selects the first sensor electrodes COML. The potentialof the selected first sensor electrodes COML is changed to become thesame potential as that of the detection drive signal Vd supplied to thevoltage detector DET.

The conductor 104 (see FIGS. 11 and 17) is provided on a second surface21 b side of the first substrate 21 so as to be separated from the firstsubstrate 21, which is not illustrated in FIG. 19. The second detectionsignals Vdet2 according to change of the capacitance between the firstsensor electrodes COML and the conductor 104 are output from therespective first sensor electrodes COML to the detector 40. The seconddrive signal generator 15 may be included in the second sensor driver48, or may be mounted on the second control IC 18 (see FIG. 14). Thedetection drive signal Vd is supplied to the drive electrode scanner 14a through the voltage detector DET. However, the detection drive signalVd may be supplied to the drive electrode scanner 14 a without passingthrough the voltage detector DET.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, each of the second sensor drivers 48 iscoupled to the corresponding gate driver 12 and the gate lines GCL, andswitches signals to be supplied to the gate lines GCL. As illustrated inFIG. 20, the second sensor drivers 48 each include a plurality ofswitches SW1, a plurality of switches SWh, a plurality of switches SWsg(second switches), a plurality of switches SWse (third switches), aplurality of wires Wxh, a plurality of wires Wx1, a wire Wxse, a wireWse, a wire Wvgh, a wire Wvg11, a plurality of wires Wvg12 (secondwires), a plurality of wires Wsg (first wires), and a plurality ofcapacitive elements Cd. The switches SW1, the switches SWh, the switchesSWsg, and the switches SWse are thin-film transistors (TFTs).

The switches SW1, the switches SWh, and the switches SWsg are arrangedinside of the gate driver 12 (closer to the display region 10 a than thegate driver 12) in a part of the frame region 10 b. For example, thenumber of switches SW1, the number of switches SWh, and the number ofswitches SWsg are each equal to the number of gate lines GCL. Groupseach consisting of the switch SW1, the switch SWh, and the switch SWsgthat are arrayed in the X direction are arrayed in the Y direction. Theswitch SW1, the switch SWh, and the switch SWsg that are arrayed in theX direction are coupled to one another. Specifically, the drain of theswitch SW1 is coupled to the source of the switch SWh, and the drain ofthe switch SWh is coupled to the source of the switch SWsg. The switchSW1, the switch SWh, and the switch SWsg are each coupled to thecorresponding gate line GCL. Specifically, the drain of the switch SW1is coupled to the gate line GCL, the source of the switch SWh is coupledto the gate line GCL, and the source of the switch SWsg is coupled tothe gate line GCL. The switches SWse are arranged closer to the detector40 than any of the switches SW1, the switches SWh, and the switchesSWsg. The number of switches SWse is equal to the number of wires Wsg.

One of the wires Wxh is coupled to the gate driver 12 and to the gate ofone of the switches SWh. One of the wires Wx1 is coupled to the gatedriver 12 and to the gate of one of the switches SW1. The wire Wxse iscoupled to the controller 11 and to the gates of the respective switchesSWse.

The wire Wxse, the wire Wse, the wire Wvgh, and the wire Wvg11 arearranged outside of the switches SW1, the switches SWh, and the switchesSWsg (farther from the display region 10 a than the switches SW1, theswitches SWh, and the switches SWsg). The wire Wxse, the wire Wse, thewire Wvgh, and the wire Wvg11 extend in the Y direction and are arrangedin parallel to one another. The wire Wxse is coupled to the controller11 and to the gates of the respective switches SWse. The wire Wse iscoupled to the controller 11 and to the gates of the respective switchesSWsg. The wire Wvgh is coupled to the detector 40 and to the drains ofthe respective switches SWh. An on-voltage VGH for turning ON theswitches SWp is supplied from the detector 40 to the wire Wvgh. The wireWvg11 is coupled to the detector 40 and to the sources of the respectiveswitches SW1. An off-voltage VGL for turning OFF the switches SWp issupplied from the detector 40 to the wire Wvg11.

The wires Wvg12 are coupled to the detector 40 and to the sources of therespective switches SWse. The off-voltage VGL is supplied from thedetector 40 to each of the wires Wvg12. The wires Wsg are arrangedbetween the switches SWsg and the display region 10 a. For example, oneof the wires Wsg is coupled to the detector 40, to the drains of two ofthe switches SWsg, and to the drain of one of the switches SWse. Thatis, one of the wires Wsg is coupled to two of the gate lines GCL throughthe switches SWsg. The wires Wsg are grade-separated from the gate linesGCL in the frame region 10 b.

The capacitive elements Cd are alternating-current (AC) couplingelements provided for preventing the switches SWp from malfunctioning toresult in improper display. The capacitive elements Cd are provided tothe respective wires Wsg. That is, each of the switches SWsg and thedetector 40 are coupled to each other through the correspondingcapacitive element Cd. When the detection drive signals Vd for forcedetection are supplied to the gate lines GCL, the detection drivesignals Vd may cause the switches SWp to operate in some cases. Thecapacitive elements Cd offset the detection drive signals Vd, therebypreventing the switches SWp from malfunctioning.

The second drive signal generator 15 illustrated in FIG. 18 is coupledto the gate lines GCL through the voltage detector DET, the wires Wsg,and the switches SWsg. In the above-described self-capacitive forcedetection, the second drive signal generator 15 supplies the detectiondrive signals Vd to the voltage detector DET (see FIG. 18). Thedetection drive signals Vd are supplied to the gate lines GCL throughthe wires Wsg. The third detection signals Vdet3 are then output to thevoltage detector DET through the wires Wsg. That is, the wires Wsg serveboth as input wires that supply the detection drive signals Vd to thegate lines GCL and as output wires that extract the third detectionsignals Vdet3 from the gate lines GCL.

If the wires Wsg are arranged outside of the switches SWsg (farther fromthe display region 10 a than the switches SWsg), the wires Wsg extendingin the Y direction need to be grade-separated from other wires extendingin the X direction. These other wires include, for example, drawn-outwires extending in the X direction that couple the main part of the wireWvg11 extending in the Y direction to the sources of the respectiveswitches SW1. The off-voltage VGL supplied to the main part of the wireWvg11 is transmitted to the switches SW1 through the drawn-out wires. Ina detection operation, the detection drive signals Vd are supplied tothe wires Wsg, while signals having voltages different from the voltageof the detection drive signals Vd are supplied to other wires thatintersect the wires Wsg. As a result, a parasitic capacitance isgenerated. The detection drive signal Vd is a pulse signal equivalent tothe alternating-current square wave Sg illustrated in FIG. 10, and thespeed of supplying the pulse to the gate lines GCL thus slows down withincrease in parasitic capacitance generated in the wires, which reducesthe speed of force detection.

On the other hand, the present embodiment has the wires Wsg arrangedbetween the switches SWsg and the display region 10 a, and thus thewires Wsg are grade-separated from the gate lines GCL. In a detectionoperation, the detection drive signals Vd are supplied to the wires Wsgand the gate lines GCL. Thus, the wire Wsg and the gate line GCL thatare grade-separated from each other are at the same potential, whichprevents generation of a parasite capacitance. That is, theconfiguration prevents slowdown of force detection using the gate linesGCL.

FIG. 21 is a plan view illustrating shields according to the firstembodiment. FIG. 22 is a sectional view illustrating a cross sectiontaken along line XXII-XXII in FIG. 21. As illustrated in FIG. 21 andFIG. 22, the display apparatus 1 with a touch detection functionincludes a shield SLsw, a shield SLsg, and a plurality of metal membersSLm. In FIG. 22, a structure between the shield SLsw and a group of theswitch SW1, the switch SWh, and the switch SWsg, and a structure betweenthe shield SLsg and the wires Wsg are omitted.

The shield SLsw and the shield SLsg are formed of, for example, atranslucent conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indiumzinc oxide (IZO), and tin oxide (SnO). As illustrated in FIG. 21, theshield SLsw has a belt-like shape extending in the Y direction, andoverlaps the switches SW1, the switches SWh, and the switches SWsg whenviewed in the Z direction.

The shield SLsg has a belt-like shape extending in the Y direction, andoverlaps the wires Wsg when viewed in the Z direction. For example, inthe present embodiment, the shield SLsg overlaps all of the wires Wsgwhen viewed in the Z direction. The shield SLsg is arranged at adistance from the shield SLsw. As illustrated in FIG. 21, the shieldSLsg is coupled to the detector 40 and to the ground. For example, theshield SLsg is coupled to the ground through the housing 103 (see FIG.11). In a force detection period Pf1 and a force detection period Pf2,which are described below, a guard signal Vsg1 is supplied from thedetector 40 to the shield SLsg. That is, the shield SLsg is an activeshield. For example, the shield SLsw and the shield SLsg are arranged inthe same layer as that of the first sensor electrodes COML in thedisplay region 10 a, as illustrated in FIG. 22.

The metal members SLm are provided on a surface of the shield SLsg, thesurface facing the wires Wsg. For example, the metal members SLm arelinear members extending in the Y direction. That is, the longitudinaldirection of the metal members SLm is along the longitudinal directionof the wires Wsg. The metal members SLm are arranged in parallel to oneanother, and are arrayed in the X direction. That is, the metal membersSLm are arrayed in a direction in which the wires Wsg are arrayed.

FIG. 23 and FIG. 24 are timing waveform charts each illustrating anexemplary operation of the display apparatus with a touch detectionfunction according to the first embodiment. FIG. 25 is a schematicdiagram illustrating an exemplary operation performed by the displayapparatus with a touch detection function according to the firstembodiment in a display period. FIG. 26 is a schematic diagramillustrating an exemplary operation performed by the display apparatuswith a touch detection function according to the first embodiment in atouch detection period. FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating anexemplary operation performed by the display apparatus with a touchdetection function according to the first embodiment in a forcedetection period. FIG. 28 is another schematic diagram illustrating anexemplary operation performed by the display apparatus with a touchdetection function according to the first embodiment in the forcedetection period.

As an example of the method for operating the display apparatus 1 with atouch detection function, the display apparatus 1 with a touch detectionfunction performs the touch detection operation (in a touch detectionperiod), the display operation (in a display operation period), and theforce detection operation (in a force detection period), in a timedivision manner. The touch detection operation, the force detectionoperation, and the display operation may be performed in any manner aslong as being performed separately. The following describes a method forperforming each of the touch detection operation, the display operation,and the force detection operation multiple times, in one frame period(1F) of the display panel 20, i.e., during time required to displayvideo information for one screen.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, when a control signal (TS-VD) is turned ON(high level), one frame period (1F) is started. A control signal (TS-HD)is repeatedly turned ON (high level) and OFF (low level) during the oneframe period (1F). The touch detection operation or the force detectionoperation is executed in a period when the control signal (TS-HD) isturned ON, and the display operation is executed in a period when thesignal (TS-HD) is turned OFF. The control signal (TS-VD) and the controlsignal (TS-HD) are output in accordance with a clock signal from a clockgenerator of the controller 11 (see FIG. 1). A plurality of displayoperation periods Pdx (x=1, 2, . . . , n), a plurality of touchdetection periods Ptx (x=1, 2, . . . , m) in which the touch detectionoperation is performed, and a plurality of force detection periods Pf1,Pf2, and Pf₃ in which the force detection operation is performedconstitute the one frame period (1F). These periods are alternatelyarranged on a time base in the order of the touch detection period Pt1,the display operation period Pd1, the touch detection period Pt2, thedisplay operation period Pd2 . . . . For example, the display operationperiod Pdx is longer than any of the touch detection periods Ptx, theforce detection period Pf1, and the force detection period Pf2.

The controller 11 supplies the video signals Vdisp to the pixels Pix(see FIG. 15) in a plurality of rows selected in each display operationperiod Pdx through the gate driver 12 and the source driver 13 in thedisplay operation periods Pdx (x=1, 2, . . . , n). FIG. 23 illustratesselection signals (SELR/G/B) for selecting the three colors, i.e., R, G,and B, and a video signal (SIGn) of each color. A correspondingsub-pixel SPix is selected according to the selection signal (SELR/G/B),and the video signal (SIGn) of each color is supplied to the selectedsub-pixel SPix, so that the display operation of an image is executed.In each display operation period Pdx, an image obtained by dividingvideo signals Vdisp for one screen by n is displayed, and the videoinformation of the one screen is displayed in the display operationperiods Pd1 to Pdn. The first sensor electrodes COML also function asthe common electrodes of the display panel 20. In each of the displayoperation periods Pdx, the ground potential GND is supplied to the firstsensor electrodes COML.

In each of the display operation periods Pdx, the gate driver 12sequentially outputs a control signal xoutH to each one of the wiresWxh, as illustrated in FIG. 25. The control signal xoutH turns ON theswitch SWh. Consequently, the on-voltage VGH is supplied to thecorresponding gate line GCL from the detector 40 through the wire Wvghand the corresponding switch SWh. The on-voltage VGH turns ON thecorresponding switch SWp.

In each of the display operation periods Pdx, the gate driver 12sequentially outputs a control signal xoutL to each one of the wiresWx1, as illustrated in FIG. 26. The control signal xoutL turns ON theswitch SW1. Consequently, the off-voltage VGL is supplied to thecorresponding gate line GCL from the detector 40 through the wire Wvg11and the corresponding switch SW1. The off-voltage VGL turns OFF thecorresponding switch SWp.

In each of the display operation periods Pdx, the controller 11 outputsa control signal xSELFEN to the wire Wxse as illustrated in FIG. 25 andFIG. 26. The control signal xSELFEN turns ON the switches SWse.Consequently, a signal (first signal) having the off-voltage VGL (firstvoltage) is supplied to the wires Wsg through the wires Wvg12.

In each of the touch detection periods Ptx (x=1, 2, . . . , m), thecontroller 11 outputs a control signal to the first sensor driver 14.The first sensor driver 14 supplies a detection drive signal Vcom fortouch detection to the first sensor electrodes COML. Specifically, asillustrated in FIG. 24, in each one of the touch detection periods Ptx,the detection drive signal Vcom is supplied to one supply unit of COMLx(x=1, 2, . . . , m) in the first sensor electrodes COML. Based on thebasic principle of the mutual capacitive touch detection describedabove, the detector 40 detects whether there is a touch input to thedisplay region 10 a from the first detection signal Vdet1 supplied fromthe second sensor electrode TDL, and calculates the coordinates of theinput position.

In each of the touch detection periods Ptx, the detector 40 supplies theoff-voltage VGL to the wire Wvg1 as illustrated in FIG. 27. The gatedriver 12 sequentially outputs a control signal xoutL to each one of thewires Wx1. The control signal xoutL turns ON the switch SW1.Consequently, the off-voltage VGL is supplied to the corresponding gateline GCL from the detector 40 through the wire Wvg1 and thecorresponding switch SW1.

In each of the touch detection periods Ptx, the controller 11 outputsthe control signal xSELFEN to the wire Wxse as illustrated in FIG. 27.The control signal xSELFEN turns ON the switches SWse. Consequently, theoff-voltage VGL is supplied to the wires Wsg through the wires Wvg12.

In the force detection period Pf1, the controller 11 outputs a controlsignal to the second drive signal generator 15. The second drive signalgenerator 15 supplies the detection drive signal Vd to the first sensorelectrodes COML as illustrated in FIG. 24. Based on the above-describedself-capacitive detection principle, the detector 40 calculates forceinput to the input surface 101 a (see FIG. 11, for example) from thesecond detection signal Vdet2 supplied from the first sensor electrodesCOML.

In the force detection period Pf1, the controller 11 outputs a controlsignal SELFEN to the wire Wse as illustrated in FIG. 28. The controlsignal SELFEN is an inversion signal of the control signal xSELFEN andturns ON the switches SWsg. In the force detection period Pf1, thedetector 40 outputs the guard signal Vsg1 to the wires Wsg.Consequently, in the force detection period Pf1, the guard signal Vsg1is supplied to the gate lines GCL as illustrated in FIG. 24. The guardsignal Vsg1 is preferably a signal having an amplitude that fluctuatesin synchronization with the detection drive signal Vd and having awaveform of the same amplitude and the same frequency as those of thedetection drive signal Vd, but may have a different amplitude. Thedetection drive signal Vd is a pulse signal equivalent to thealternating-current square wave Sg illustrated in FIG. 10.

In the force detection period Pf2, the controller 11 outputs the controlsignal SELFEN to the wire Wse as illustrated in FIG. 28, thereby turningON the switches SWsg. In the force detection period PC, the detector 40outputs the detection drive signal Vd to the wires Wsg. Consequently, inthe force detection period PC, the detection drive signal Vd is suppliedto the gate lines GCL as illustrated in FIG. 24. Based on theabove-described self-capacitive detection principle, the detector 40calculates force input to the input surface 101 a (see FIG. 11, forexample) from the third detection signals Vdet3 supplied from the gatelines GCL.

In the force detection period PC, the controller 11 outputs a controlsignal to the second drive signal generator 15. The second drive signalgenerator 15 supplies the guard signal Vsg1 to the first sensorelectrodes COML as illustrated in FIG. 24.

In the force detection period Pf1 and the force detection period PC, thedetector 40 supplies the guard signal Vsg1 to the shield SLsg asillustrated in FIG. 24. On the other hand, in each of the displayoperation periods Pdx and each of the touch detection periods Ptx, asignal (second signal) having a predetermined voltage (second voltage)is supplied to the shield SLsg. The second voltage is, for example, theground potential GND. That is, the second voltage is equal to a voltagesupplied to the first sensor electrodes COML serving as the commonelectrodes in the display operation periods Pdx.

As described above, the wires Wsg are arranged between the switches SWsgand the display region 10 a so that the wires Wsg are close to thedisplay region 10 a (see FIG. 20). As illustrated in FIG. 25 to FIG. 27,the off-voltage VGL is supplied to the wires Wsg in the touch detectionperiods Ptx and the display operation periods Pdx. For this reason, thecharged wires Wsg may possibly cause the alignment film formed of apolyimide film to be charged or cause ions in the liquid crystal layer 6to be moved. Such charging of the alignment film or movement of ions inthe liquid crystal layer 6 may possibly disturb video images displayedin the display operation periods Pdx.

On the other hand, the display apparatus 1 with a touch detectionfunction includes the shield SLsg, and thus can prevent the wires Wsgfrom influencing display. That is, electric lines of force generated bythe charged wires Wsg easily pass through the shield SLsg having theground potential GND, and thus hardly reach the display region 10 a.This configuration prevents influence of the wires Wsg on display.

Each one of the wires Wsg (see FIG. 20) may not necessarily be coupledto two of the gate lines GCL. For example, each one of the wires Wsg maybe coupled to one of the gate lines GCL, or may be coupled to three ormore of the gate lines GCL.

The off-voltage VGL may not necessarily be supplied to the gate linesGCL in each of the touch detection periods Ptx. For example, thedetection drive signal Vcom may be supplied to the gate lines GCL ineach of the touch detection periods Ptx. The gate lines GCL may be leftin a floating state in which the potentials thereof are not fixedwithout any voltage supplied thereto.

In the force detection period Pf1, the source lines SGL may serve as thedetection electrodes in substitution for the first sensor electrodesCOML. That is, in the force detection period Pf1, the second drivesignal generator 15 may supply the detection drive signal Vd to thesource lines SGL. The display apparatus with a touch detection functionperforms force detection using the gate lines GCL and wires intersectingthe gate lines GCL and grade-separated from the gate lines GCL in thedisplay region 10 a (for example, the first sensor electrodes COML orthe source lines SGL).

In the display operation periods Pdx, the predetermined voltage (secondvoltage) supplied to the shield SLsg may not necessarily be the groundpotential GND. The second voltage is preferably different from theoff-voltage VGL and the on-voltage VGH to be supplied to the switchesSWp. The second voltage is preferably different from a predeterminedvoltage (first voltage) supplied to the wires Wsg in the displayoperation periods Pdx. The first voltage may not necessarily be theoff-voltage VGL. The second voltage is preferably equal to a voltagesupplied to the common electrodes (first sensor electrodes COML) in thedisplay operation periods Pdx.

The shield SLsg may not necessarily overlap all of the wires Wsg. Theshield SLsg may overlap at least one of the wires Wsg. When the shieldSLsg overlaps a part of the wires Wsg, the shield SLsg preferablyoverlaps one or some of the wires Wsg that is closer to the displayregion 10 a than the rest of the wires Wsg. That is, the shield SLsgpreferably overlaps one of the wires Wsg that is the closest to thedisplay region 10 a among all of the wires Wsg. An element that suppliesthe guard signal Vsg1 to the shield SLsg may not necessarily be thedetector 40. The element is not specifically limited and may be anotherdriver IC or the like different from the detector 40. The metal membersSLm may not necessarily be provided on a surface of the shield SLsg onthe side thereof facing the wires Wsg. For example, the metal membersSLm may be provided on a surface of the shield SLsg on the side thereofnot facing the wires Wsg.

The shield SLsw and the shield SLsg may be integrally formed. The shieldSLsw and the shield SLsg may not necessarily be arranged in the samelayer as that of the first sensor electrodes COML in the display region10 a. For example, the shield SLsw and the shield SLsg may be arrangedin the same layer as that of the pixel electrodes 22.

As described above, a display apparatus (the display apparatus 1 with atouch detection function) according to the present embodiment includesthe gate lines GCL, first switches (the switches SWp), second switches(the switches SWsg), and first wires (the wires Wsg). The first switches(the switches SWp) are arranged in the respective pixels Pix in thedisplay region 10 a and are coupled to the respective gate lines GCL.The second switches (the switches SWsg) are arranged in a frame region10 b surrounding the display region 10 a and are coupled to therespective gate lines GCL. The first wires (the wires Wsg) are coupledto the second switches (the switches SWsg) and are configured to supplyfirst detection drive signals (the detection drive signals Vd) to thegate lines GCL through the second switches (the switches SWsg) in thedetection operation periods. The first wires (wires Wsg) are arrangedbetween the second switches (switches SWsg) and the display region 10 a.

This configuration makes the gate lines GCL grade-separated from thefirst wires (wires Wsg). When the detection electrodes are driven by theself-capacitive method, the first wires (wires Wsg) and the gate linesGCL are at the same potential. Consequently, the display apparatus(display apparatus 1 with a touch detection function) can preventgeneration of a parasite capacitance in the self-capacitive detectionoperation, and also prevent slowdown of the detection.

The display apparatus (display apparatus 1 with a touch detectionfunction) according to the present embodiment includes the gate linesGCL, the first wires (wires Wsg), and a shield (the shield SLsg). Thefirst wires (wires Wsg) are arranged in the frame region 10 bsurrounding the display region 10 a and are configured to supply thedetection drive signals Vd to the gate lines GCL in the detectionoperation periods and be supplied with first signals having apredetermined first voltage (the off-voltage VGL) in the displayoperation periods that are different from the detection operationperiods. The shield (the shield SLsg) is a conductive member overlappingat least one of the first wires (wires Wsg) when viewed in a direction(the Z direction) perpendicular to the display region 10 a and issupplied with second signals having a predetermined second voltage (theground potential GND) in the display operation periods.

As a result, the shield (shield SLsg) serving as a conductive membercovers at least one or some of the first wires (first wires Wsg),whereby the charged first wires (first wires Wsg) are less likely toinfluence the display region 10 a. The display apparatus (displayapparatus 1 with a touch detection function) thus can prevent influenceon display by the wires to be supplied with the detection drive signalsin the self-capacitive detection operation.

The shield SLsg has the ground potential GND, whereby in the displayoperation periods, the electric lines of force generated by the chargedfirst wires (wires Wsg) easily pass through the shield (shield SLsg)having the ground potential GND, and thus hardly reach the displayregion 10 a. Therefore, the display apparatus (display apparatus 1 witha touch detection function) can prevent influence on display by thewires to be supplied with the detection drive signals in theself-capacitive detection operation.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 29 is a timing waveform chart illustrating an exemplary operationof a display apparatus with a touch detection function according to asecond embodiment. In the second embodiment, a first sensor driver 14supplies a voltage Vcomd to all of first sensor electrodes COML indisplay operation periods Pdx.

As illustrated in FIG. 29, in the display operation periods Pdx, apredetermined voltage (second voltage) to be supplied to a shield SLsgis a voltage Vcomd. That is, the second voltage is equal to a voltagesupplied to the first sensor electrodes COML operating as commonelectrodes in the display operation periods Pdx.

The present invention can naturally provide other advantageous effectsthat are provided by the aspects described in the embodiments above andare clearly defined by the description in the present specification orappropriately conceivable by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus comprising: a plurality ofgate lines; a plurality of first switches arranged in respective pixelsin a display region, each of the first switches being coupled to one ofthe gate lines; a plurality of second switches arranged in a frameregion surrounding the display region, each of the second switches beingcoupled to one of the gate lines; and a first wire coupled to therespective second switches and supplying a detection drive signal to therespective gate lines through the respective second switches in adetection operation period, wherein the first wire is arranged betweenthe second switches and the display region.
 2. The display apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first wire is grade-separated from thegate lines in the frame region.
 3. The display apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the first wire is coupled to two or more of the gatelines through the respective second switches.
 4. The display apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein an off-state voltage of the first switchesis supplied to the first wire in a display operation period differentfrom the detection operation period.
 5. The display apparatus accordingto claim 4, further comprising: a third switch arranged in the frameregion and coupled to the first wire; and a second wire coupled to thethird switch and supplied with the off-state voltage.
 6. The displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wire is one of aplurality of first wires, and the second switches and the first wiresare provided on two opposite sides of the display region.
 7. The displayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wire also serves as anoutput wire for a detection signal output from the gate lines.
 8. Thedisplay apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pluralityof intersecting wires grade-separated from the gate lines in the displayregion, and supplied with the detection drive signal in the detectionoperation period, wherein, in a period when the detection drive signalis supplied to the intersecting wires, a guard signal is supplied to thegate lines through the first wire.
 9. The display apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a detector configured to detect force basedon detection signals output from the gate lines.